It turned out to be an unusual week. The augurs were there when comments were set to close in 2009, a gaffe for which I'd like to apologise again. There then followed a prolonged dispute over the ethics of posting and an even lengthier discourse on the merits of Ken Dodd. Finally there was a long list of great music (as ever) but one that, oddly, seemed to reveal that while songwriters like to set songs by the river they're not naturally inclined to write songs about them. Well that was my conclusion, anyway.

The Byrds – Lover of the BayouReminding me of Dr's John Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya of Meat B-list fame, reeling off creole keywords. But while the Dr John song was creepy, this has a real moody groove to it.

Brian Eno – By This River Protagonists sitting by the river is all the connection you have, but the mood, melody and tempo make this a track too wonderful to ignore.

Okkervil River – Okkervil River Song Love the line about staring at the river and the river staring back. Like Pulp's A-listed Wickerman in its depiction of urban detritus, with added squeezebox.

Kate Bush – Under IcePhrased almost like an incantation, staccato intimations of something unpleasant lurking in the water make this a scary piece.

Bix Beiderbecke – Mississippi Mud Half-skit, half-song, set off by Beiderbecke's brass jollity, it's the kind of riverbank party I wish I was invited to. In the 1920s.

Paul Robeson – Song of the Volga Boatmen More of that wonderful voice and the river as a patriotic emblem (the sort of imagery I was expecting to see more of).

Mark Lanegan – The River Rise This sounds like a river rising – cymbals, bass and rhythm guitar combine in one serene swell. But the lyrics are less comforting, with paralysis and fear of failure at their heart.

Blind Willie McTell – I Got to Cross the River Jordan A nod to the many religious numbers nominated.

Alison Krauss – Down to the River to Pray And another. The lush arrangement of the latter providing a nice contrast to the cracked, crackling emotions of the former.

This week's topic will live or die by justifications, I think. The topic came to mind after I watched Lars von Trier's film Antichrist (unsettling being only the half of it). We've had scary songs, of course, so it's more about being confronted with something you'd rather not have been. Most likely this will be lyrical content, but I think there's a musical case to be made too. As ever, I'll be on the blog on Friday to answer questions.

The rulebook:

DO NOT post more than a third of the lyrics to any one song.DO Post your nominations before midday on Monday if you wish them to be considered.DO Post justifications of your choices wherever possible.DO Be nice to each other!